Friday, December 18, 2015

A study published last month in the scholarly journal Environment Systems and Decisions appears to contradict mounting evidence that meat farming is worse for the environment than growing fruits and vegetables.

According to new research from a team of Carnegie Mellon University scientists, “following the USDA recommendations to consume more fruits, vegetables, dairy and seafood is more harmful to the environment because those foods have relatively high resource uses and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per calorie.”

In other words, the study says that following a mostly vegetarian diet has a more profound impact on climate change eating meat.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland transportation officials say the Chesapeake Bay Bridge should be able to handle traffic for another half century.

Officials said Thursday that a bridge life cycle cost analysis has confirmed that the twin spans of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge are in satisfactory condition and, with anticipated preservation and maintenance, can be maintained safely through 2065.

By that time, the eastbound span will be 113 years old, and the westbound span will be 92 years old. Officials say that beyond 2065, it is difficult to project what rehabilitation and maintenance would be required to keep the bridges in fair or better condition.

The Maryland Transportation Authority says the life cycle study identified deck and superstructure replacement, painting, and cable replacement as some of the anticipated preservation needs.Source

The 2016 spending bill holds more presents than lumps of coal for federal employees. The omnibus appropriations bill is the first one in some time that didn’t require federal employees to hold their collective breaths for possible pay and benefits changes.

For federal employees, it starts with the 1.3 percent pay raise President Barack Obama approved in August. It remains untouched. The spending bill was silent on the raise, which means as of Jan. 1, employees will see an increase.

Next comes what wasn’t in the bill. Congress didn’t attempt to or include any cuts or reductions on retirement or health benefits.

“We’ve gone from three years of a pay freeze to two years at 1 percent, thank god we are at least at 1 plus the locality, 1.3 percent or a little higher in some areas. They left our pensions alone. They left our health care alone,” said J. David Cox, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, during a press briefing with reporters on Dec. 16 in Washington. “The future does seem to look at little brighter than what we were seeing.”

As we make our way towards the end of the NFL season the excitement surrounding Super Bowl 50, taking place on Feb. 7, 2016 in San Francisco, is reaching a fever pitch. Teams are gearing up for a run through the playoffs to get to the coveted Super Bowl all the while CBS, the exclusive broadcaster of Super Bowl 50, is gearing up for unprecedented coverage of the event as well.

In the weeks leading up to the big game, each of CBS’ renowned properties will be covering different aspects and angles of the biggest game in professional sports.

Whether it’s “The NFL Today” crew counting down until kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday with a special edition show titled “The Super Bowl Today,” or CBS Sports Digital’s wall-to-wall coverage of everything football throughout the playoffs and Super Bowl Weekend, or CBS Sports Radio and CBS Local Sports’ highly localized market-to-market coverage of every detail of the big event, CBS has the big game covered.

Role Will Support Governor in Filling Key Positions Across State Government

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Hogan today announced that he has appointed Dennis Schrader as the Secretary of Appointments. Schrader replaces James Fielder, who was recently appointed as the new secretary of the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Schrader previously served as the deputy secretary for policy, planning & enterprise services for the Maryland Department of Transportation. In his new role, Schrader will lead the office responsible for supporting the governor in filling about 1,500 positions yearly.

“I am thrilled a person like Dennis Schrader, someone of the utmost character and integrity, will lead the office charged with filling so many key leadership roles throughout the state,” said Governor Hogan. “I am confident he will be committed to selecting the most qualified candidates to help change Maryland for the better.”

Prior to joining Transportation in January 2015, Schrader was a director at Integrity Consulting Solutions and a faculty member at Towson University. Schrader also served as deputy administrator of the National Preparedness Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and served as Maryland's first director of homeland security. Schrader served in the U.S. Navy where he served active duty until 1987, retiring as a Captain in 2007.

“It’s a great honor to continue to serve the Hogan Administration,” said Schrader. “I look forward to working with the governor in identifying the best person for the job for positions across Maryland.”

Schrader received a master's degree in industrial engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a licensed professional engineer. He resides in Columbia, Maryland, with his wife Sandra, a former Maryland State Senator.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council today announced a set of data-driven recommendations to reform Maryland’s criminal justice system. The recommendations are aimed at safely reducing Maryland’s incarcerated population, controlling corrections spending, and reinvesting in more effective, less expensive strategies to increase public safety and reduce recidivism. The reform package is projected to save $247 million over the next decade by realigning criminal justice spending and holding the criminal justice system accountable for results.

Following the charge laid out by Governor Larry Hogan, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Speaker Michael E. Busch, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, and Attorney General Brian E. Frosh, the Council engaged in a six-month study of Maryland’s criminal justice system, analyzing state data, evaluating policies and programs used in other states, and reviewing research on what works to reduce recidivism.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that every Maryland tax dollar spent on our criminal justice system delivers the highest return on our investment in public safety," said Governor Hogan. "Throughout its work, the Council focused on how to treat offenders suffering from substance abuse or mental health problems, and explored reentry programs that could help them become contributing members of their communities once they return home. I want to thank the Council for its hard work on this significant report."

MSNBC Chris Matthews is a blowhard. He works to push his opinion as fact and downplay the importance of facts on his show as he berates those who dare disagree with him and pathetically fawns-over those who parrot liberal talking points.

Speaking about Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential election, Matthews discussed the supposed oratory greatness of the teleprompter-reliant candidate and claimed that when he listens to Obama speak, he gets a “thrill” up his leg, an odd phrase that has led to some nicknaming Matthews “Tingles.”

Martin O’Malley is running a serious race for the presidency, in which he has courageously defended immigrants, refugees, and Muslims while arguing for bold gun-control policies. But do contemporary politics reward seriousness and courage? As one of three remaining Democratic contenders—with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders—O’Malley gets good reviews for debate performances and speeches. Yet the former Maryland governor’s poll numbers are modest. Undaunted, he tells John Nichols that “the politics of higher purpose” can prevail.

John Nichols: You speak often of politics in terms of moral duty. That’s an echo of the Catholic social-justice tradition. But it also reflects your sense of how to get things done.

Martin O’Malley: Yes, the politics of higher purpose—that’s what’s always drawn me to public service. I believe that the power of politics isn’t money. It’s the beliefs that unite us, when they are actually tapped—when a leader is willing to make him- or herself vulnerable for the sake of those values. I’m the only one in this race who’s again and again staked my political future on issues of principle, whether it was driver’s licenses for new immigrants, the Dream Act, or ending the death penalty. When we moved to repeal the death penalty, there wasn’t a single adviser in my circle who said, “This is really great politics.”

Moore, who was standing in solidarity with Muslims rather than announcing a religious conversion, also posted anopen letter to the billionaire tycoon on Facebook, where he claimed fear and ignorance were the driving forces behind his incendiary policy choices.

Today I went & stood in front of Trump Tower & held a sign until the police came. Then I went home & wrote Donald a…

“Here we are in 2015, like many other angry white guys, you are frightened by a bogeyman who is out to get you. That bogeyman, in your mind, are all Muslims. Not just the ones who have killed, but ALL MUSLIMS,” he wrote.

Moore went on to suggest that the changing demographics of the American electorate give Trump little chance of success in his bid to for the Oval Office.

“We are not a country of angry white guys,” wrote the Oscar-winning documentary director. “Here’s a statistic that is going to make your hair spin: Eighty-one percent of the electorate who will pick the president next year are either female, people of color, or young people between the ages of 18 and 35. In other words, not you. And not the people who want you leading their country.”

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. —Army reserve soldiers from Maryland stopped an armed robbery at a pharmacy near Fort Dix, New Jersey, military officials said Thursday.

U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from the 372nd Military Police Company from Cumberland, Maryland, were at the New Jersey pharmacy Saturday.

As the soldiers left the store, they noticed a suspicious man holding a large black knife in his left hand and a black plastic bag in his right hand.

The soldiers called 911 but the man left and began running towards the back alley. The soldiers pursued the man and told him to stop, but he kept running. The man eventually dropped his weapon and the black bag and surrendered. He was taken into custody shortly after.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A northern New York couple were sentenced to a total of 880 years in prison for sexually exploiting six young girls, including two Amish sisters kidnapped from their family's roadside vegetable stand.

U.S. District Judge Glenn Suddaby sentenced Stephen Howells to 580 years in prison and Howells' former girlfriend Nicole Vaisey to 300 years in prison.

"You are the threat that parents worry about every day," Suddaby said to Howells. "You are the nightmare that never goes away for children."

Howells, 40, pleaded guilty in May to 21 counts of sexually exploiting children and child pornography. He admitted he victimized the six girls from December 2012 through August of last year, when he and Vaisey were charged with kidnapping the Amish sisters in St. Lawrence County.

It appears that about fifteen minutes into the flight, a gastroenterologically distressed passenger took an emergency trip into the small room in the back of the plane to empty the contents of their lower intestine that thing that passes for a toilet. That's probably about seven seconds after the seatbelt light went off, so something pretty awful was probably brewing.

Barbara Walters might not have a regular seat at the View table anymore, but her opinions — as evidenced by her annual Most Fascinating People special — remain as relevant as ever.

So America scratched its collective head during this year’s telecast, which aired Thursday on ABC, wondering who would nab the legendary newswoman’s top spot. Amy Schumer, Bradley Cooper, Tracy Morgan, Misty Copeland, Bernie Sanders, Donna Karan, Ronda Rousey, Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump filled the first nine positions, all leading up to the big reveal.

In case you ignored the headline and photo of this article, Caitlyn Jenner — the athlete formerly known as Bruce Jenner — was the final name revealed. I use “revealed” loosely because, given the first nine names on the list, who else could possibly be left?

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)’s first major legislative achievement is a total and complete sell-out of the American people masquerading as an appropriations bill.

Too harsh, you say? Let the programs, the spending, and the implications speak for themselves.

(1) Ryan’s Omnibus Fully Funds DACA

Though much of the public attention has surrounded the President’s 2014 executive amnesty, the President’s 2012 amnesty quietly continues to churn out work permits and federal benefits for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens. Paul Ryan’s bill funds entirely this 2012 executive amnesty for “DREAMers”—or illegal immigrants who came to the country as minors.

Specifically, Division F of Ryan’s omnibus bill contains no language that would prohibit the use of funds to continue the President’s unconstitutional program. Obama’s executive action, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), has granted around 700,000 illegal aliens work permits, as well as the ability to receive tax credits and federal entitlement programs. A recent GAO report documented how this illegal amnesty program for alien youth is, in large part, responsible for the illegal alien minor surge on our southern border.

In 2013, Paul Ryan said that it is his job as a U.S. lawmaker to put himself in the shoes of “the DREAMer who is waiting” and work to find legislative solutions to his or her problems.

With a 25 point national lead and the primaries set to begin in just six weeks, Republican frontrunner Donald Trump appeared with Jimmy Kimmel Wednesday night and again signaled (as he did in Tuesday night’s debate) that he is shifting into a lower gear as he faces the very real possibility of assuming the role as Leader of the Republican Party. “I would like to see the Republican Party come together,” Trump said. “I’ve been a little bit divisive in the sense that I’ve been hitting people pretty hard.

In a good-natured way, Kimmel laughed and replied sarcastically, “A little bit, yeah.” Trump acknowledged his own understatement and added, “And ultimately we have to come together and get this thing done.”

Trump also repeated a statement he made during the Tuesday night debate blasting the trillions spent on “stupid wars” in the Middle East — a message that will sound very appealing in a general election campaign, and one that doubles as an effective attack against Hillary Clinton, who supported the Iraq War, and who was the architect of the appalling strategy that handed Libya over to the jihadists.

Instead of sharing some eggnog or perhaps a round of caroling on the streets of Annapolis, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. are celebrating the season with a highly public exchange of letters that make clear their mutual contempt.

On the surface, the spat between the two Democrats involves portable air-conditioning units for Baltimore County schools. But the deeper clash is about Franchot’s view of his role as an aggressive guardian of the public interest and Miller’s assessment that the comptroller is a headline-hunting opportunist who sticks his beak into local affairs for political gain.

Franchot, who often allies himself with Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, has pushed for months to change rules barring the use of state construction funds for portable units to cool sweltering classrooms in buildings without central air. He wrote to Miller (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) on Dec. 11 to express his displeasure that the state Senate’s representative on the Interagency Committee on School Construction had moved to delay action so that lawmakers could have more time to consider the issue.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) slammed the immigration implications of the year-end spending bill Wednesday, saying the omnibus represents a “betrayal” of voters that fully funds President Obama’s immigration agenda while also increasing the number of low-skilled foreign guest workers allowed.

“The more than 2,000 page year-end funding bill contains a dramatic change to federal immigration law that would increase by as much as four-fold the number of low-wage foreign workers provided to employers under the controversial H-2B visa program, beyond what is currently allowed,” Sessions said in a statement.

The foreign nationals who enter the U.S. on H-2B visas come for low-skilled nonagricultural jobs and work in hotels, construction, landscaping and the like, jobs, Sessions argued, that millions of Americans would like to have.

“At a time of record immigration – with a full 83 percent of the electorate wanting immigration frozen or reduced – the GOP-led Congress is about to deliver Obama a four-fold increase to one of the most controversial foreign worker programs. The result? Higher unemployment and lower wages for Americans,” Sessions continued.

The Senate has given sweeping approval to a year-end budget package that boosts federal agency spending and awards tax cuts to both families and an array of business interests.

The 65-33 vote sent President Barack Obama a package combining $1.14 trillion in new spending in 2016 and $680 billion in tax cuts over the coming decade, a peaceful end to a yearlong struggle over the budget, taxes, and Republican efforts to derail his regulatory agenda.

Veteran pollster Pat Caddell says he agrees with the premise that America today is closer to another revolution than at any time in recent history, adding, “The strength of this country comes from its people and it has a political system that is run, now, to the exclusion of its people … you have three quarters of the American people saying the government in Washington does not rule with the consent of the governed.”

Caddell cited elements of the bill that are still being discovered, such as the upping of the number of foreign visas. Caddell was referring to a provision that was outrageously “slipped into the bill” without the knowledge of many lawmakers.

In a generation or two, the US will ask itself: "Who lost Europe ?" Here is the speech of Geert Wilders, Chairman, Party for Freedom the Netherlands , at the Four Seasons in New York , introducing an Alliance of Patriots and announcing the Facing Jihad Conference in Jerusalem.

Dear friends,

Thank you very much for inviting me.

I come to America with a mission. All is not well in the old world. There is a tremendous danger looming, and it is very difficult to be optimistic. We might be in the final stages of the Islamization of Europe. This not only is a clear and present danger to the future of Europe itself, it is a threat to America and the sheer survival of the West. The United States as the last bastion of Western civilization, facing an Islamic Europe.

First, I will describe the situation on the ground in Europe .. Then, I will say a few things about Islam. To close I will tell you about a meeting in Jerusalem.

The Europe you know is changing.

You have probably seen the landmarks. But in all of these cities, sometimes a few blocks away from your tourist destination, there is another world. It is the world of the parallel society created by Muslim mass-migration.

All throughout Europe a new reality is rising: entire Muslim neighborhoods where very few indigenous people reside or are even seen. And if they are, they might regret it. This goes for the police as well. It's the world of head scarves, where women walk around in figure less tents, with baby strollers and a group of children. Their husbands, or slaveholders if you prefer, walk three steps ahead. With mosques on many street corners. The shops have signs you and I cannot read. You will be hard-pressed to find any economic activity. These are Muslim ghettos controlled by religious fanatics. These are Muslim neighborhoods, and they are mushrooming in every city across Europe . These are the building-blocks for territorial control of increasingly larger portions of Europe , street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city.

There are now thousands of mosques throughout Europe . With larger congregations than there are in churches. And in every European city there are plans to build super-mosques that will dwarf every church in the region. Clearly, the signal is: we rule.

Many European cities are already one-quarter Muslim: just take Amsterdam , Marseille and Malmo in Sweden .. In many cities the majority of the under-18 population is Muslim. Paris is now surrounded by a ring of Muslim neighborhoods. Mohammed is the most popular name among boys in many cities.

In some elementary schools in Amsterdam the farm can no longer be mentioned, because that would also mean mentioning the pig, and that would be an insult to Muslims.

Many state schools in Belgium and Denmark only serve halal food to all pupils. In once-tolerant Amsterdam gays are beaten up almost exclusively by Muslims. Non-Muslim women routinely hear 'whore, whore'. Satellite dishes are not pointed to local TV stations, but to stations in the country of origin.

In France school teachers are advised to avoid authors deemed offensive to Muslims, including Voltaire and Diderot; the same is increasingly true of Darwin . The history of the Holocaust can no longer be taught because of Muslim sensitivity.

In England sharia courts are now officially part of the British legal system. Many neighborhoods in France are no-go areas for women without head scarves. Last week a man almost died after being beaten up by Muslims in Brussels , because he was drinking during the Ramadan.

Jews are fleeing France in record numbers, on the run for the worst wave of anti-Antisemitismsince World War II. French is now commonly spoken on the streets of Tel Aviv and Netanya , Israel .. I could go on forever with stories like this. Stories about Islamization.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Maryland Board of Public Works approved on Wednesday the issuance of $320 million in Baltimore City Public Schools Construction and Revitalization Program revenue bonds by the Maryland Stadium Authority. The bond proceeds will be used to finance a portion of the costs to design, construct, and renovate a group of 11 public school facilities under the Baltimore City Public Schools Construction and Revitalization Program.

The $320 million is in addition to education funding already appropriated to Baltimore City in Governor Hogan’s FY 2016 budget. That budget includes record-breaking investment in K-12 education as well as $318 million for school construction. Governor Hogan was the first Maryland governor to fund the supplemental Geographical Cost of Education Index (GCEI) in his first year, and has already pledged to fully fund it in the next budget.

“Education will always be one of our top priorities, which is why our administration was proud to fund K-12 education at historic levels this past year,” said Governor Hogan. “We will continue to invest in education to ensure that every child in Maryland has access to a world-class education. I thank my fellow board members, Comptroller Franchot and Treasurer Kopp, for their support of this important effort.”

"I was pleased to join Governor Hogan and Treasurer Kopp in approving the issuance of these Stadium Authority Bonds," said Comptroller Peter Franchot. "In order to effectively educate our children to compete in a 21st-century global economy, we need to have classrooms and school facilities that are conducive to modern learning and academic success."

"This is an important step forward on the part of the State, the City, and the City Schools System, working together for our students and communities," said Treasurer Nancy Kopp. "Having the Maryland Stadium Authority as a partner in this effort is crucial for the success of this effort. I thank them for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication.”

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland should save prison beds for serious and violent officers, improve probation and parole supervision and take other steps that could reform the state’s criminal justice system and save money, a panel appointed by the governor recommended Thursday.

The Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council says its 19 recommendations could save the state a projected $247 million over the next decade.

Topping the list of recommendations, the panel said Maryland needs to restructure penalties for drug possession and direct more offenders into treatment. For example, the maximum sentences for drug possession for non-marijuana arrests would be significantly reduced. Now, sentences range from 0-4 years. Under the recommendations, a maximum of 12 months would apply to a first conviction. A second and third conviction would bring a maximum of up to 18 months, and a fourth would bring up to two years.

The House on Friday easily passed a $1.14 trillion spending bill to fund the government through next September, capping a peaceful end to a yearlong struggle over the budget, taxes, and Republican demands of President Barack Obama.

The 316-113 vote exceeded expectations and sent the legislation to the Senate for action later Friday.

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) released the following statement after voting against the Omnibus spending bill in the House:

“While the spending bill had several good provisions, I cannot support a bill that does not address the surge of Syrian refugees into this country without a thorough vetting process. With the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and Paris, the security of our nation should be our top concern. I am also concerned about the increases in non-defense spending in a time where our country is facing large deficits and growing federal debt.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A Pennsylvania 19-year-old pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, used Twitter to spread its propaganda and had a backpack with ammunition that suggests he might have been plotting an attack, federal authorities said Thursday.

Jalil Ibn Ameer Aziz, of Harrisburg, was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists. He was scheduled to have an initial appearance in federal court on Thursday afternoon.

Court documents said a "go bag" or "tactical-style backpack" found in Aziz's closet contained a high-capacity magazine loaded with ammunition, a modified kitchen knife, a thumb drive, a tin filled with medicine and a full-face mask similar to those worn by Islamic State militants. Aziz may have been "preparing to conduct or assist others in conducting an attack in the United States," according to a criminal complaint.

A group of prominent Orthodox rabbis in Israel, the United States and Europe have issued a historic public statement affirming that Christianity is “the willed divine outcome and gift to the nations” and urging Jews and Christians to “work together as partners to address the moral challenges of our era.”

“Jesus brought a double goodness to the world,” the statement reads. “On the one hand he strengthened the Torah of Moses majestically” and on the other hand “he removed idols from the nations,” instilling them “firmly with moral traits.”

This year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the declaration issued in 1965 by the Second Vatican Council, which marked a watershed in Jewish-Christian relations.

In language unusual for its day, Nostra Aetate stated that “God holds the Jews most dear,” stressed the great “spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews,” and condemned “hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”

Now, a group of Jewish leaders has responded in kind, expressing their desire to accept “the hand offered to us by our Christian brothers and sisters.”

“Christians are congregations that work for the sake of heaven who are destined to endure, whose intent is for the sake of heaven and whose reward will not denied,” the text reads.

The statement bears the title, “To Do the Will of Our Father in Heaven: Toward a Partnership between Jews and Christians,” and is signed by over 25 prominent Orthodox rabbis, who invite fellow Orthodox rabbis to join in signing the statement.

On Tuesday, Project Veritas released undercover video footage of Maryland Deputy Attorney General Thiruvendran Vignarajah, who likely violated professional ethics and clearly disclosed confidential information in order to impress a twenty-one year old female videographer.

In Part II of this series, Vignarajah sent multiple sexually explicit texts to the female videographer. Later, he had her delete them to destroy the evidence. Unknown to Vignarajah, the text messages had been saved by Project Veritas and some are exposed in the undercover video.

He is also shown wearing a wedding ring in public, but not wearing it in a bar and later in a hotel room.

In response to the fist video, a spokesman for Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh told the AP that there was “no confidence [for Vignarajah] to break.” He told The Daily Caller that “In general, Mr. Frosh is not concerned about private views shared by employees in private conversations.”

Within hours of a terror attack that left 14 dead in Southern California, the nation’s best-known Islamic advocacy group held a press conference with the killers’ family – and Muslims around the country cringed.

In the days following the Dec. 2 attack in San Bernardino, Council for American-Islamic Relations representatives partially blamed U.S. policy for terrorist attacks, accused gunman Syed Rizwan Farook’s co-workers of making fun of his beard and sought to downplay comments by Farook’s father linking him to ISIS. Like Muslims throughout the U.S., CAIR officials condemned the attack, but too often with what sounded to critics like subtle caveats.

“CAIR is a primary obstacle in the effort of many honest American Muslims who recognize our need to own up and lead long-overdue reforms against the root causes of radicalization: Islamism and its separatism,” said Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, an ex-U.S. Navy officer who founded and heads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy.

For would-be reformers like Jasser, reclaiming the faith begins with taking back control of Islam’s image. He and other increasingly outspoken Muslim-Americans say true moderates must be honest and unequivocal in condemning acts of violence carried out in the name of Islam. Most of all, they are tired of the Washington-based nonprofit claiming to speak for them.

“CAIR’s information is marketed and packaged so it seems that they speak for all of us, but they don’t speak for me and my group,” said Raheel Raza, president of the Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow. “CAIR does not and has never represented the majority Muslim voices which are as diverse as Muslims in America.”

Maryland's rarely sung state song may be in for some tinkering. A state advisory group is calling for changes to "Maryland, My Maryland" because it takes the Confederate side in the Civil War and bashes "Northern scum."

Sung to the same tune as the Christmas carol "O Tannenbaum," the state anthem — performed mainly at the Preakness and some other official events — has irked or embarrassed many over the years because of its pro-Southern sentiments. This week, an eight-member panel of historians, musical scholars and a poet urged lawmakers to replace most or all of the lyrics, or even select an entirely different song.

"No one's looking to ban the [current] state song," said Timothy D. Baker, state archivist and chairman of the group. Instead, he explained, the group suggested coming up with some musical expression that would be "reflective of all Marylanders."

As many as 1000 migrants have been involved in a plan to storm the Calais entrance to the Channel Tunnel in a bid to reach England, some armed with iron bars and hammers. The A16 road into Calais had to be shut for an hour as police fired tear gas at the crowd to drive them back.

Vigilant locals have taken to the Facebook group ‘Les Calaisians en Colère’ (Calaisians are Angry) to warn that gangs of around 50-60 migrants at a time were working to bring traffic to a standstill as their accomplices attacked the tunnel.

“An attack on the tunnel by the illegal immigrants is in progress!” they posted “Be vigilant if you go to this area, especially around avenue Roger Salengro where groups of 50 to 60 illegal immigrants have been sighted…”

“WARNING! There are reports from reliable sources that a group of six or seven migrants are running around with iron bars, stones and hammers.”

The group also posted several videos of migrants congregating at roadsides, attempting to halt traffic.

The activity appears to have been going on for at least twenty four hours – last night the group posted a video showing drivers narrowly avoiding having an accident, as they swerved around mattresses and a tree branch which had been left in the road.More here

While all air traffic grounded after 9/11, then-President Bush flew Bin Laden family out of country

During the Republican debate Tuesday Jeb Bush took exception to Donald Trump’s assertion George W. Bush flew Saudis and members of the Bin Laden family out of the country.

Despite the corporate media insisting this is a conspiracy theory we have definitive proof Jeb’s brother gave preferential treatment to Saudis—including Saudis who were considered principle witnesses to the September 11 attacks.

The review of how the FBI dealt with and reported on the travel of the Florida-based Saudis, and their subsequent departure from the United States with other Saudis, shows that the FBI failed to interview principal witnesses; relied on erroneous second-hand information; misinterpreted the orders under which the FAA managed the closure and subsequent reopening of U.S. airspace after the 9/11 attacks; misreported the means of travel; and even got Prince Sultan’s identity wrong.

Senior officials rejected a proposal to incorporate social media screenings in the vetting process of foreign visa applicants in 2011, MSNBC reports.

While the current screening process does not have a policy requiring social media screenings, the memo obtained by MSNBC provides a proposal for the Obama administration to put in place requirements for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel “to use social networking Internet sites for purposes of verifying information related to applications and petitions.”

According to a senior official speaking with MSNBC, the policy was rejected in 2011 after about a year of review and was about to be incorporated until senior officials stopped it.

The official, who spoke to the outlet on condition of anonymity to provide information about the security discussions, said it “is unusual” for a policy to go through the review process and then “not happen.”

“We are at war now,” the official said, “and we need all the tools we can get.”

MSNBC published the redacted memo, which was ultimately rejected, noting that DHS has not disputed it but rather pointed to three recent pilot programs started this year to perform social media vetting.More

Salisbury, MD – Celebrate an American tradition this winter as the Lone Star Rodeo Company brings its Wild Ride Tour, presented by Cheerwine to the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center for two nights of competition on Friday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 23. The Saturday show is brought to you by Bryan & Brittingham.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Just prior to the competition, boys and girls are invited to the arena floor to take part in the Best Dressed Cowboy/Cowgirl Contest and Children’s Gold Rush. Rodeo events get underway at 7:30 p.m. including Bareback Bronc Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Brahma Bull Riding and Cowgirls’ Barrel Racing.

Tickets for the Lone Star Rodeo are on sale now. General admission (upper-level, non-reserved seating) is $17 for adults and $13 for children. A VIP Western Experience ticket is available for $25, offering lower-level, reserved seating close to the action. VIP's also benefit from an early 6 p.m. admission with exclusive access to a pre-show down on the dirt with rodeo competitors, rodeo clown and animals. A military discount is offered on all ticket prices. Additional taxes and/or fees may apply to all ticket purchases. For tickets and additional information, please visit www.WicomicoCivicCenter.org.

The Democratic National Committee has suspended Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign from accessing its voter database after the campaign took advantage of a software error to access Hillary Clinton's confidential voter information.

Sanders' campaign said the sneak peek was inadvertent.

Still, the suspension is a setback for the Vermont senator because the database is a goldmine of information about voters nationwide. Campaigns usually use that data to plot their next moves.

The DNC database keeps the information gathered by different campaigns separated by a firewall.

But the data systems vendor that runs the program dropped the firewall for a brief period of time Thursday, during which time the data was accessed.

Salisbury, MD – Be the first to shout "Checkmate!" at Wicomico Recreation's Annual Chess Tournaments at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. The Youth Tournament will be held on Friday, February 5, followed by the Adult Tournament on Saturday, February 6.Youth Tournament (Ages 5-18)Friday, Feb. 5, Registration Opens at 5 p.m., Play Begins at 5:30 p.m.Guaranteed 4 MatchesMultiple Age Divisions (based on registration)Registration Fees: $7 In Advance, $12 At The Door

Newark - The Delaware State Police are investigating a Trooper involved shooting that occurred late yesterday evening in Newark, which has left a male armed home invasion suspect hospitalized.

The following information outlines the preliminary investigation into a Trooper involved shooting that occurred last night in Newark, Delaware.

The incident occurred Thursday, December 17, 2015 at approximately 10:29 p.m. as a Trooper responded to a residence in the 300 block of Salem Church Road, Newark, for the report of a home invasion style robbery. Upon arrival the Trooper approached the side door of the residence where he observed broken glass and was immediately confronted by a male suspect who was inside of the home and armed with a handgun. The Trooper gave verbal commands for the suspect to drop the weapon however; he did not comply with the commands. The Trooper then fired his divisionally issued weapon striking the suspect in the lower torso. A second suspect inside of the home was then confronted by the Trooper and immediately placed into custody without incident. First Aid was then rendered by responding officers to the wounded suspect until the arrival of EMS. He was then transported to the Christiana Hospital Trauma Center in serious but stable condition. The Trooper and five occupants of the home were not injured.

Troopers were also advised of a third suspect who fled the scene in an unknown make and model vehicle.

The Trooper involved in this incident is a 3 1/2 year veteran of the Delaware State Police assigned to Troop 2 in Glasgow, DE. He has been placed on administrative leave as per Divisional Policy, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Detectives from the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit responded to the scene and are conducting the investigation. This is an active and ongoing investigation with Detectives continuing their investigation, evidence processing, and interviews.

Troopers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident, withfurther details to be released as the investigation progresses.

If anyone has any information about this incident they are asked to contact Detective D. Weaver at 302-741-2728. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, or by sending anonymous tips by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword DSP via the internet atwww.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.

Salisbury, MD – The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42nd Street will celebrate a one night engagement at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center with a sparkling new production on Monday, May 16. 42nd Street will be directed by co-author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team who staged the 2001 Tony Award® winning Best Revival.

42nd Street is the song and dance fable of Broadway, with an American Dream story and some of the greatest songs ever written, including “We’re In The Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “Dames,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and of course “42nd Street.”

With book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin, 42nd Street is based on a novel by Bradford Ropes and Busby Berkeley’s 1933 movie and tells the story of a starry-eyed young dancer named Peggy Sawyer who leaves her Allentown home and comes to New York to audition for the new Broadway musical Pretty Lady. When the leading lady breaks her ankle, Peggy takes over and becomes a star.

The original production of 42nd Street was produced in 1980 on Broadway by David Merrick and featured direction and dances by Gower Champion. It played on Broadway for 3,486 performances, winning 1981 Tony Awards® for Best Musical and Best Choreography. The Broadway revival, which opened in 2001, played for 1,524 performances and earned two Tony Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical.

The AG’s office says 30 retailers from around the country that sold illegal toys guns to NY consumers through Amazon’s third-party marketplace platform will permanently change their business practices in the state.

Federal law requires toy guns to have an orange stripe near the tip, but New York law goes a bit farther, prohibiting the toys from being blue, black, silver or aluminum. Instead, they must be brightly colored or translucent, to mark the more distinctly as toys and not the real thing.